Kana

See also: Appendix:Variations of "kana"

English

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Japanese 香菜 (Kana).

Proper noun

Kana

1. A female given name from Japanese

Etymology 2

Two main origins:

• Borrowed from Czech Káňa, a variant of Kan.
• Borrowed from Tamil கனா (kaṉā); this surname is predominantly found in Tamil Nadu.

Proper noun

Kana (plural Kanas)

1. A surname.

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Kana is the 39,212^th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 561 individuals. Kana is most common among White (79.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (10.52%) individuals.

Further reading

• Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Kana”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 2, New York City: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 272.

Anagrams

• Akan, knaa, naka

Japanese

Romanization

Kana

1. Rōmaji transcription of かな

Tagalog

Etymology

Initial clipping of Amerikana.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /kaˈnaʔ/ [kɐˈn̪aʔ]
• Rhymes: -aʔ
• Syllabification: Ka‧na

Noun

Kanâ (masculine Kano, Baybayin spelling ᜃᜈ)

1. (informal, sometimes offensive, ethnic slur) female American (citizen of the United States)
   • 1974, Liwayway:

     ... 'yan ang kutis na pinagkakamatayan ng mga Kana sa States. Kaya sila malimit sa dagat ... nagpapasun-tan ba." "Aba, wala namang malamang gawin ang mga dalaga rito sa atin kung pa'no magpapaputi." “Madali 'yan... bleach .

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1984, Women Writers in Media Now (Philippines), Filipina I: poetry, drama, fiction, Cellar Book Shop (→ISBN)

     ANITA: Lalo na kung makikita ka nilang nagpapasikat sa pagsayaw sa mga Kana. (Napapangiti si Ruben. Magka- katinginan ang mag-asawa, matitigilan) RUBEN : Kung ganoo'y saan mo gustong tumira, Anita? ANITA: Sa bunso mo kaya.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Usage notes

The term usually carries a stereotypical connotation regarding Americans, such as the aquiline nose and white skin, and it can be an ethnic slur depending on context.

Coordinate terms

• Kano

Further reading

• Zorc, R. David, San Miguel, Rachel (1993) Tagalog Slang Dictionary, Manila: De La Salle University Press, →ISBN, page 71

Anagrams

• ka- -an, naka-, anak